Wind industry proposal advances in Virginia Senate

A key legislative proposal aimed at strengthening Virginia’s offshore wind industry advanced to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee by an 11-4 vote on Monday amid the Trump Administration’s attempts to downsize federal support. 

HB1616, the Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Program and Fund, is designed to bridge the skills gap in the sector by directing the Virginia Department of Energy to establish specialized training programs within the state. These initiatives would equip workers with the expertise necessary to support offshore wind development in Virginia. 

Del. Michael Feggans (D-Virginia Beach), the chief patron of the bill, emphasized that HB1616 would bolster Virginia’s offshore wind industry by creating new workforce development initiatives while incorporating existing resources. The proposal also aims to integrate with federal grant funding already allocated for offshore wind workforce training, including the $16 million awarded to the Virginia Department of Energy in 2024. 

Chrissy Noonan, speaking on behalf of Dominion Energy, expressed support for the bill. 

“We think this bolsters the good work being done in the offshore wind space and offshore wind energy here in Virginia, and we ask that you support the bill, ” Noonan said. 

When asked by Sen. Mark J. Peake (R-Lynchburg) about the number of jobs the bill would create, Noonan acknowledged uncertainty regarding the exact figure but noted that the bill extends beyond workers servicing turbines. It also addresses the broader supply chain necessary to establish Virginia and the Hampton Roads region as a key hub for offshore wind manufacturing and logistics.

Representatives from labor organizations, including Blair St. Ledger of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Patrick Brueggemann of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 666 and Lou Spencer of Virginia Building Trades, voiced their support. 

“We’re seeking to make sure that our offshore wind industry is helping Virginia thrive, that [workers] are being trained and recertified here instead of being sent out of state every two years for their continued education,” St. Ledger said. “So for those reasons, we support the bill.”

Spencer noted that the bill would complement existing apprenticeship programs without creating funding gaps. Despite the momentum behind HB1616, federal policy presents significant headwinds. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order has created uncertainty for offshore wind development by halting the Biden administration’s push to rapidly expand wind energy projects.